LibGuides: ENG 1301: Composition I: Specialized Resources

Specialized Resources

On this page you will find three databases that contain information about controversial topics. Types of information and resource formats includes reports, essays, journal, newspaper and magazine articles, images and videos. These databases are very useful in writing argumentative papers.

CQ Researcher
Provides researchers with access to reports that cover different controversial topics going back to 1991.

The Reference Shelf
Each 200-page volume of this series provides comprehensive, balanced coverage of an issue of importance in modern society.

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context)
This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.

Credo Reference
A collection of reference works, sources intended to provide quick facts facts, definitions, dates, or details on a topic.

What You Need to Know About News / Periodicals Databases

News / Periodicals databases contain articles from newspapers, sometimes in the United States, sometimes worldwide. In addition to articles from newspapers, news databases can contain news stories from newswires and transcripts from television and radio broadcasts.

Access World News Research Collection
Research diverse perspectives, topics and trends that align with curricular areas such as Political Science, English, Sociology, Humanities, Business, International Studies and more. Features reliable, credible information from a wide variety of international, national, and local news sources. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Historical Archive 1902-1990
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is an American daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. This collection contains material published in the newspaper from 1902-1990.
Nexis Uni
Nexis Uni features the following: 1. Thousands of news sources from all over the world. 2. Legal court cases and law reviews 3. Company dossiers and information. Replaces LexisNexis Academic.
Newspaper Source Plus
Contains more than 1,200 newspapers, 40 news magazines, 130 newswires, and more than 2.1 million television and radio news transcripts.

Why Use Opinion?

Public opinion is a very useful kind of resource to use in your paper, that can help to prove or disprove an argument that you are making in your paper.

Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. Use to find attitudes about social media and facts and trends in use of social media.
Pew Research Center | Global Attitudes and Trends
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. This section contains research conducted by the Center about various global attitudes and trends.

Opinions Throughout History Series

These "single, in-depth volumes in this series are designed to trace public opinion on current, controversial topics from our nation's early history to the present. Each volume includes a range of primary and secondary source documents, including newspaper and magazine articles, speeches, court decisions, and other legislation."

Opinions Throughout History: Diseases and Epidemics by Micah Issit (Editor)
Call Number: Ref. RA 650.5.I87 2020

ISBN: 9781642658446

Publication Date: 2020-12-30
Opinions Throughout History: Guns in America by Micah Issit (Editor)
Call Number: Ref. HV 7436.I87 2020

ISBN: 9781642656534

Publication Date: 2020-06-30
Opinions Throughout History: Law Enforcement in America by Micah Issit (Editor)
Call Number: Ref. HV 8139.I87 2021

ISBN: 9781642658460

Publication Date: 2022-11-30
Opinions Throughout History: Mental Health by Micah Issit (Editor)
Call Number: Ref RA 790.6.I87 2023

ISBN: 9781637005408

Publication Date: 2023-06-07
Opinions Throughout History: Presidential Authority by Micah Issit (Editor)
Call Number: JK516 .I87 2020

ISBN: 9781642654509

Publication Date: 2020-06-30
Opinions Throughout History: War and the Military by Micah Issit (Editor)
ISBN: 9781637000656

Publication Date: 2022-03-30

Statistics can be used in a research paper for supporting evidence to support your main ideas or thesis. Many sources of statistical data come from the federal and/or state governments.

Below are some of the agencies of the the U.S. Federal Statistical System and the types of statistics they gather and provide.

Bureau of Economic Analysis
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis is your source of accurate and objective data about the nation's economy. The BEA produces some of the world's most closely watched statistics, including U.S. gross domestic product, better known as GDP. The BEA also has statistics on state and local numbers, too, plus foreign trade and investment stats and industry data.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
BJS is the primary statistical agency of the Department of Justice. It has data on corrections, costs of crime, the courts, crime (including the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the Uniform Crime Reporting Tool), tribal crime and justice, and victims of crime.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics contains data on inflation and prices (including the Consumer Price Index), pay and benefits, employment and unemployment, workplace injuries, consumer expenditures, how Americans spend time,
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), part of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics, and provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation.
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) is the lead Federal government agency for behavioral health data and research.
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Education.
National Center for Health Statistics
A part of the CDC, this agency contains data on Diseases and Conditions, Infectious/Immune, Family Life, Health Care and Insurance, Disability and Risk Factors, Injuries, Life Stages and Populations, and Reproductive Health
U.S. Energy Information Administration
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. Major publications of the EIA include: Annual Energy Outlook, and the International Energy Outlook.
United States Census Bureau
The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. It covers a wide range of topics in addition to measuring population.

Other Sources of Statistical Information

National Safety Council | Injury Facts
Since 1921, Injury Facts® has been reporting the facts on preventable injuries and deaths in the workplace, on our roads and in our homes. We follow the data, and it tells us where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
Data.gov
Here you will find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.
UN Data
UN Data is a web-based data service for the global user community. It brings international statistical databases within easy reach of users through a single-entry point.

ENG 1301: Composition I

Quick Links

Reference & Instruction Librarian

Specialized Resources